Insulated rail-joint.



. G. BRAINE.

INSULATED RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, I916- fih %%@,@%5 Pmemed June 5, 191?.

B. G. BRAINE,

INSULATED RAIL JOiNT.

APPLICATION nuzn MAR. 23. 1916.

Patented June 5, 1937.

'2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

BAKER-OFT G. 1BR, OF YORK, N. 2., ASSIGNOB. T rm a; a I I 0F NE YORK, N. Y., A. GOEFOBATIOII OF ME YDEK.

' rusnnn'rnn I. i

duplication filed specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in insulation for rail joints of the insulated 7 type, and has special reference to a novel form of insulat' unit possessing special utility in its apphcation as the'fiber headpiece of divided insulation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the structural form of a rail-head insulating unit, whereby the insulating material may be utilized to provide the most economical conditions of maintenance and renewal. ln carrying forward this general object, the invention contemplates a construction wherein that part of the insulation subject to the most rapid disintegration and destruction, may, with certainty, be correctly positioned in the jointregardless of the care of the track men, thereby insuringa proper relative fitting of the insulation and the joint bar against the rail. An improper relative fitting of the insulation and oint bar impairs the ability of the railfhead insulation to successfully resist the destructive forces incident to the pounding of the car wheels in the rail ends as well, as to thetightening of the joint bolts. This impro er relative tting of the parts is frequently due to carelessness of the workmen when'applying the joint. "That is, with the ordinary form of fiber headpiece of divided insulation, carelessness in application causes the same to assume an oblique or canted position, and it is this faulty 1position that results in the impairmento the proper fitting of the insulation and joint bar against the rail.

- With these and other objects which will be recognized by those familiar with the art, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Though susceptible 'of structural modifications, and applicable to any form of joint or i splice bar, the preferred and practical a Specification of Letters Patent.

011 1916. serial No. scam.

Patented dune 5,19l't.

bodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

. Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of an insulated rail joint showing the application of the improved rail head insulating unit thereto, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the joint with.

the joint bar removed to thereby expose, in

elevation, the improved rail-head insulating unit Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the improved rail-head insulating unit;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the" insulating unit on the line 4.-4L of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a bisected sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention wherein the inner depending skirt of the unit is dispensed with, and

Fig. 6 is an elevation and projected and view of the modified form of unit shown in gimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The improved rail-head insulating unit is applicable to any type of rail joint and to any practical form of joint bar, but for illustrative purposes there is shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings an insulated rail joint-including the usual rails It and joint bars 1 of the continuous type. These joint bars are associated with any suitable form of base insulation 2 which insulates the bars from the rail flanges, but the rail-head insulation is the novel and distinctive feature of the invention.

The said railhead insulation consists of an insulation plate '3, of fiber or equivalent insulating material, and said plate comprises an angle member fitting in the angle of the rail beneath the rail head, and engaged by the head ortion 4 of the joint bar.

a i portion 8, exten be- The angular insu ation plate includes an longitudinal creeping or displacement of the insulating unit. But, in all embodiments of the invention the insulation plate 3, is

provided with side guard projections 9. These guard projections may be made in difl'erent ways, and may assume diflerent forms, though in the preferred embodiment shown the same are provided by bending bar ofa rail head insulating unit comprisoutwardly the end portions of the inner web 6, of the insulation plate, thus producing I outturned flanges which underlie the inner side projection 7 of the head of the bar, and are adapted to engage against the inner side of the bari By reason of the construction described it will be apparent that when the rail-head insulating unit, or fiber head-piece,

is inserted between the rail. and the joint bar the guard projections or flanges 9, will abut against the inner face of the bar and thereby prevent the unit or head-piece from assuming the canted or oblique position previously referred to. Thus, the improvement insures a correct relative fitting of the insulation and jointparts With the result of holding the insulating unit in its most efl ective position.

By way of illustrating the rangeof modification that may be resorted to in carrying out the invention there is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings a construction where in the skirt portion of the insulation plate is entirely dispensed with, and the outturned guard projection or flange 9 is in the form of a continuous flange, thereby producing an insulating unitsubstantially in the form of a cult fitting over the upper side and,

inner head projection of the joint bar.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and advantages of the im-' r aaaees proved rail-head insulating unit will be 2p 7 web portion formed with an outturned guard flange. I

4. A rail-head insulating unit comprising an insulation plate having an upper insulating flange and a depending web formed with a depending skirt and with an outturned guard flange.

5A rail-head insulating unit comprising an insulation plate provided with an upper insulating flange and with. a web portion having a central skirt extension and outturned guard flanges at its ends. o

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my I signature in the presence of two witnesses.

nancnorr 'e. elarus.

Witnesses:

E. K. KERsHNnn, C. A. Drsenow. 

